THE source for news of bluegrass and old-time music events in Ireland - and more

23 June 2014

More detached notes

Thanks to clawhammer-banjo maestro Michael J. Miles (USA) for his latest e-newsletter, with forthcoming shows, classes, and projects up and down the States. In August, for instance, you can make your own banjo (with a yogurt pot body) under Michael's guidance. In early September, he'll be taking part in the American Banjo Camp at Puget Sound, WA, and leading a memorial sing-around in tribute to Pete Seeger (photo).

This coming weekend the Silk Road Rising Theatre company presents in Chicago Unmanned, a drama by Robert Myers with music by Michael, about the lives of two military drone pilots in Arizona, flying drones in Iraq and Afghanistan. More details here.

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More news from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, which (in collaboration with BBC Northern Ireland) is inviting applications for the Northern Ireland Young Musicians' Platform Award. Five awards, worth £5,000 each, plus professional mentoring and performing opportunities, are available to raise the skills and profile of exceptional, talented young musicians (instrumentalists 18-26; singers 18-29).

For the first time, the awards will extend beyond the classical music arena and will now be offered also to musicians from jazz and traditional music backgrounds (we can't guess where bluegrass may come in that spectrum). Applications opened last Friday (20 June) and will close on Thursday 2 October 2014. More details here.